So here I am going through my emails as Lily watches Cinderella for the millionth time. After getting through the pertinent work-related messages, my eye catches a Wall Street Journal article that my dad sent me. It is about this new Gillette advertisement which in the spirit of the #MeToo movement basically tells us men that, as a whole, we aren’t doing a good enough job at being decent human beings. It suggests that men need to “step-up” to keep each other from grab-assing, womanizing, and bullying. Sure, some guys are good, the commercial implicitly admits, but apparently, most men are basically garbage. If you think I’m exaggerating, just watch the commercial: it literally says that “some men already are” doing the right thing but “some is not enough.” Right.
Author: chrismtwo
The Grim, Meat-hook Realities of Motherhood and Why I’m Different
Birds and Bees
As we approach the end of the weaning process and Lily starts to exclusively eat “big people” food, I have a confession to make. I don’t have breasts. I couldn’t have fed my daughter at all for the first six months of her life if not for the assistance of modern technology, and even with a one-year-old nursing remained invaluable.
Continue reading “The Grim, Meat-hook Realities of Motherhood and Why I’m Different”
The Dual Earner Household And Sheer Economics
While Lily enjoys watching Baby Shark (doo doo doo) I thought I would get a few thoughts written down. The first is that the suggestion that children have no screen time whatsoever before the age of two is absurd. The second absurdity is the idea that two parents can raise a healthy family while maintaining two “fully-equal” full-time careers.
Continue reading “The Dual Earner Household And Sheer Economics”
Why I’m writing this
Right now I’m trying to type with a baby on my knee. This is pretty much how I get most of my writing done, which I’ll admit has been greatly diminished since I became a part-time freelancer, full-time stay-at-home dad. So to the title of this first entry: why?
Working Parents
The dual-income family now accounts for 60% of all two parent families with children under 18 years old, according to a new Pew Research study. With the stay-at-home parent planted firmly in the minority, the impact of this shift is being felt. Even though both mothers and fathers are spending more time on child care than they did in 1965, 46% of fathers say they aren’t spending enough time with their children (23% of mothers). Additionally, 56% of working moms and 50% of working dads say they find it very or somewhat difficult to balance work and family life. Continue reading “Working Parents”
White Student Union
Freshman Patrick Sharp is attempting to start up a “White Student Union” at Georgia State University. Not surprisingly, this has been met with some resistance and complaints by other students. Sharp, however, equates his group with other multicultural associations such as the Black Affairs Council at the University of Georgia. Continue reading “White Student Union”
War on Drugs
The leader of the Zetas Mexican drug cartel, Miguel Angel Trevino, was arrested by Mexican law enforcement on July 16, 2013, turning another page in the war on drugs. The Zetas are one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking groups in Mexico. In addition to drug trafficking, they engage in kidnapping, abduction and murders of Central American migrants on their way the United States, their main drug market. Continue reading “War on Drugs”
Voting Rights Act: Is the South More Racist than the North?
Since 1965, the Voting Rights Act has paid special attention to 9 states. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia have to get preapproval from the federal government before they make voting related changes. This includes changing polling places, having special elections, redrawing district lines and changing the date of a vote. Before any location in these states can proceed, they need to get the okay from Uncle Sam to make sure the changes aren’t racially motivated or disparaging. Continue reading “Voting Rights Act: Is the South More Racist than the North?”
Underground Economy
People will generally try and do what is best for their wallet. If this means going to lengths to avoid taxes, they will weigh the penalty and probability of being caught against the money gained. In our tax code, people weight the benefits of legal tax avoidance to the cost of navigating the labyrinth. When taxes are higher, people will go to greater lengths. This is the underground economy. Continue reading “Underground Economy”
Voting Rights Act Supreme Court Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. The issue was the mandate that certain States and jurisdictions receive preclearance from the federal government before making any changes to their voting practices. This includes changing polling places, having special, elections, redrawing district lines, and changing the date of a vote. This ruling means that, for the time being, no jurisdictions will be required to get preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Continue reading “Voting Rights Act Supreme Court Ruling”